FEATURED Tomb Raider

A heart-pounding narrative in Lara’s most personal, character-defining adventure to date.

The games present a world in 3D: a series of tombs, and other locations, through which the player must guide Lara.

After a brutal storm destroys the boat she was travelling on, a frightened young woman is left washed ashore on an unknown beach. On her own but not alone she has only one goal, to survive. Here begins the first adventure for a young and inexperienced Lara Croft in a story which charts the journey of an ordinary woman who finds out just how far she must go in order to stay alive.

Tomb Raider is an Action-Adventure game that introduces players to the origin of one of the most identifiable video games icons of all-time, Lara Croft. The game features a blend of survival, stealth, melee and ranged combat, and exploration gameplay as a young Lara Croft is forced to push herself past her know limits to survive and unravel the dark history of a forgotten island. In the process she will unlock the adventurer within her. Additional game features include: weapons both familiar and new, upgradable items, a variety of play environments, and human and animal enemies.

Experience the origins of Lara Croft’s adventurer’s spirit in a reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise. View larger

A Survivor is Born

When the first ever Tomb Raider game launched in 1996 it was a revolution. Outstanding in terms of graphics, gameplay, and storyline, it changed the way that video games were played and developed forever. Fronting the games assault on the world was the central character, Lara Croft. Lara was also to have an incredible impact, quickly becoming the most recognized and celebrated female action heroine and an icon for the video games industry.

This newest rendition of Tomb Raider explores the intense and gritty origin story of Lara Croft and her ascent from a frightened young woman to the hardened survivor that she would become known as. Armed only with raw instincts and the ability to push beyond the limits of human endurance, Lara must fight to unravel the dark history of a forgotten island to escape its relentless hold.

Key Game Features

Tomb Raider Rebooted – The new version of Tomb Raider is designed to reboot the game series for both the new generation of gamers, as well as longtime fans

The Origins of Lara Croft – Set before even the earliest of classic games in the series, Tomb Raider serves as an origin story for Lara Croft, detailing her metamorphosis from an unsure young woman, to a superstar adventurer

Diverse Gameplay – The game incorporates a variety of gameplay genres, including survival, stealth, melee and ranged combat, exploration, and more

Weapons – Utilize a variety of weapons, including bow and arrow, an ice ax, and pistol

PlayStation Trophy Support – Accumulate PlayStation trophies as Lara pushes beyond the limits of human endurance and unravels the dark history of a forgotten island

I might have been the harshest critic of the new direction Crystal Dynamics decided to take “Tomb Raider.” There are several angry posts to my name across the web, talking about why this game would fail, and how it was a desecration to the franchise. After all, I grew up with Lara’s series, and in fact, “Tomb Raider II” was the first video game I ever played. To this day, I thought that this would be a simplification of the timeless series, and a desperate attempt to make the series fit in with newcomers. Thankfully, I have been proven wrong. “Tomb Raider” is one of the venerable heroine’s finest outings, and possibly the best action game since “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.”

We begin with Lara being trapped on an island, searching for her friends and being pursued by a menacing cult. But this isn’t the cocky, oddly-proportioned character we’re used to; this is before her official tomb raiding days, and the first major expedition she sets out on. As such, she is inexperienced and vulnerable, and the game chronicles her ascension from scared teen to powerful warrior. Now, you might think the trailers give away the plot, but you’d be dead wrong. The story is every bit as strange and wonderful as some of the earlier games, containing unpredictable twists and surprising supernatural elements. It would be a crime to spoil it, but let’s just that fans of the old games need not worry; Crystal Dynamics (developers of Legend through Underworld) still know what this franchise is all about, narrative-wise, and they hit the nail right on the head.

Special props should go to Rihanna Pratchett, writer of the woefully underrated “Heavenly Sword”, for making Lara into one of the most empowering female role models ever crafted. Even in her weakest states, she is never a victim, always resourceful and one step ahead of everyone else. Through the story, we see her learn from mistakes, and turn into what we typically think of as Lara Croft. Special little nods the series’ roots, right down to the origin of her signature silver pistols, add in flavor to her character, and turn into a much deeper protagonist than she has ever been. Even as somebody who loves the old character, I must say that Pratchett has actually made me prefer this interpretation of her. Full-speed ahead with this new Lara, I say; she’s smart, cheeky, and powerful, which is exactly what she’s supposed to be.

Fans’ biggest concern about this new entry, however, was undoubtedly the gameplay. The seemingly liberal inclusion of Quick Time Events, and the deceptively linear design of showcased levels both indicated an unwelcome change. However, it turns out we were only drip-fed bits and pieces of different levels. The game itself is an entirely different matter, because it is teeming with as many secrets as the old games, if not more. While it is easy to simply follow the set path, there are numerous alternate routes to pursue in search of loot, and even entire optional tombs. These tombs are more in line with the classic puzzles we’re used to, fun little mind teasers that are a great distraction for old-school fans. Whether you want to get to the point or indulge in some side quests, this game has got you covered.

As far as the gameplay itself is concerned, Crystal Dynamics has unquestionably changed the formula for the better. Platforming is now much more tight and urgent than ever before, requiring the precision fans are used to. While it is significantly easier than past entries, the sheer creativity that went into the dynamic set pieces more than make up for it, and it isn’t necessarily as streamlined as the demos make it seem. Attention still must be paid at all time, and once you get past the initial 2 to 3 hours, the game stops holding your hand and expects you to dive head-first into somewhat tricky platforming, fully prepared to punish you with brutal deaths if you fail.

The biggest overhaul by far, though, is in the combat department. Now, even as a fan of the series, combat in “Tomb Raider” has always… well, it’s always kind of sucked. Even the improvements in Legend couldn’t quite find a way to balance platforming and shooting up enemies. However, the developers have learned from their mistakes, creating a seamless blend of platforming and TPS mechanics that must be played to be believed. There’s also a leveling component that really makes or breaks the combat; your survival is dependent on scrounging for salvage and strengthening your weapons. Most games mess this mechanic up pretty badly with upgrades that are seemingly meaningless, but this is pleasantly a whole different bag altogether.

Even more impressive is how important each weapon is, some being required to solve puzzles and progress the game. My personal favorite is the bow, which can be used as a distraction, a stealth weapon, a capable frontal assault companion, or a key to burning open pathways. Oh, yes, and it can be…

First off, let me say that this game is a blast and I had a great time playing it. I have played almost all the TR games since the original in 1996. Also, I understand why the game received an “M” rating–the blood, gore, and language park it clearly in that category. My question is, why did Crystal Dynamics design this game with M-rated content when virtually all the other TR games were “T”? TR Underworld, the last installment in the series, was rated T16+. I have a pre teen daughter who loves Lara’s character. For parents who take ratings seriously, they have blocked out a whole group of gamers who would love to play the game and experience Lara’s origins. I know-and the developers know this of course–that teens will play the game anyway. While I have only played through about a quarter of it, I have gotten a good feel for the spirit of the game and for me, the “M” content–namely the added gore and the occasional “F bombs”–did not factor in how I experience the game. In fact, the factors that push the game into the “M zone” seem more like forced additions. While I am no marketing expert, I wonder why Crystal dynamics chose to go in this direction. The Uncharted games are all “T” and they are intense, thrilling games. Perhaps the creators of this new Tomb Raider want to distinguish this game from Uncharted and creat their own unique nitch instead of being labeled as “Uncharted 4.” Comparing it to a movie, I would consider “M” the equivalent of an “R” rating. If it were a movie, I think a story like TR, with a young heroine trapped on an island, exploring tombs and fighting off bad guys, would be taylored toward a PG-13, not an R. I regret that the developers of the new TR decided to go in this direction as the game would have been just as fun with a “T” rating and would have been open to a teen audience which would really enjoy Lara’s story.

Just to be clear, I am not offended by the game’s content. In fact, it’s becuase I like the game so much, that I’ve decided to write this review. I have played and enjoyed plenty of M rated games. It just seems that this great story of a young girl, barely older than a teen herself, being transformed by her survival experience is something worth watching and enjoying for a teen audience and I regret the game designers have, in a way, shut them out.

I’ve never spent much time playing the “Tomb Raider” series, but this reboot did all the right things, and it drew me right in. This modern take on the famous franchise takes inspiration from many great sources- my first impression, oddly enough, was of “Resident Evil 4” (a classic so significant, it’s still influencing the gaming landscape). The early goings of “Tomb Raider” have a distinctly “survival horror” vibe that is masterfully conveyed, interspersed with just the right amounts of Quick Time Events, cinematic showpieces, character development, story telling, and gameplay tutorials. Additionally, it reminded me of the fantastic island of the TV show, “Lost” (complete with freaky natives and bunkers!).

The most striking comparison, of course, is that of the “Uncharted” series. “Tomb Raider” obviously existed long before “Uncharted”, but it’s equally obvious that it drew inspiration from the mechanics of climbing, combat, and cinematic storytelling of one of this generation’s most successful series. And I’m not complaining at all- I wish there were more games like “Uncharted”! For the most part, “Tomb Raider” does a fantastic job implementing these elements, resulting in a game that is a blast to play and easy to pick up. Everything is very responsive, the settings are visually vibrant and interesting, and the island is begging for more thorough searching. The inclusion of TONS of unlockables is a genius notion, including documents (which help to further unfurl the mystery of the island), artifacts, and salvage (for weapon and gear upgrades), and it means crazy amounts of replay value… plus the online multiplayer aspect, if that strikes your fancy.

The only thing holding “Tomb Raider” back from five stars is that when pitted up against the unrivaled production values of “Uncharted”, it falls a shade short. The characters are noticeably lacking compared to the likes of Nathan, Sully, and Elena, and the presentation just seems a bit “off”. There’s such an emphasis placed on (literal and figurative) darkness and grittiness, I oftentimes had difficulty seeing what was going on around my character, and it actually had something of a demoralizing effect (particlarly when compared to the bright, tropical locales of “Uncharted”). That’s not to say that “Tomb Raider” is a bad game- it’s not. In reality, it’s a very good game- it’s just not among my top favorites.

Final note (MINOR spoilers follow): The producers of this game must be huge fans of the movie “The Descent”, for there are many nods to the horror film, including Lara’s affinity for the climbing axe, the “bone scramble” toward daylight in the opening moments, and the slow emergence from the red pool of ichor in “the pit”. Additionally, Lara’s psychological transformation closely mirrors that of “The Descent”‘s protagonist. It was an excellent source to draw inspiration from, and the developers of “Tomb Raider” did a fine job of subtly paying homage to it.